National Partner Organizations
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Mission: NAEYC’s mission is to serve and act on behalf of the needs, rights and well-being of all young children with primary focus on the provision of educational and developmental services and resources.
Work: NAEYC strives to improve early childhood education for all young children through the following strategic objectives:
- Provide professional development opportunities and resources: NAEYC is a leading publisher of early childhood education resources—including books, videos, and posters, and our journals, Young Children, Teaching Young Children, and Early Childhood Research Quarterly .
- Convene individuals and groups with diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to young children: NAEYC national and Affiliate-sponsored conferences generate new knowledge and understanding
- Set and promote standards for Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Professional Preparation: NAEYC is widely recognized for its work in setting standards and creating position statements on a broad array of topics related to early childhood education.
- Recognize early childhood education programs and early childhood professional preparation programs that meet NAEYC Standards: The NAEYC Academy for Early Childhood Program Accreditation has operated at the core of our efforts to improve early childhood education quality since 1985. Programs must meet quality standards that address areas such as relationships between children and teachers, curriculum, families, community, health and safety, and program management. NAEYC also recognizes early childhood professional preparation programs that meet its standards at the Baccalaureate, advanced degree, and associate degree levels.
- Build public understanding to support all young children and their families: NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child focuses public attention on the importance of the early years for children’s development and learning. NAEYC leaders are frequent sources for the media, and Early Years Are Learning Years provide helpful information to families and teachers of young children.
- Advocate for public policies to support a comprehensive system of early childhood education for all young children and families
Strengthening Families: NAEYC’s new Accreditation Standards and Criteria for early childhood education programs include Strengthening Families.
Technical Assistance: NAEYC does provide a universal level of TA available to all who care to access it via our web site, resources/publications, conference sessions, networking, etc. In a few cases access may be limited to members.
View a crosswalk between NAEYC’s accreditation standards for early care and education centers and the program strategies